The Faculty of Chemistry
University faculties, which are the basic elements of university life, are the bodies that are responsible for establishing curriculums and managing the university courses that lead to academic qualifications. They are also the units of representation through which the general governing bodies of the University of Barcelona are selected. 
The first time that state-regulated chemistry courses were taught at the University of Barcelona was in 1845, in the sciences branch of the Faculty of Philosophy. In 1857, the Faculty of Sciences was created, which included a Chemistry Section. In 1973, the Faculties of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geology were established. Until 1969, the Faculty of Sciences was located in the Historic Building in plaça de la Universitat. The present Faculty of Chemistry building was opened in November 1969.
The current governing body is made up of:
- Dean: Dr. Pere Lluís Cabot Julià
- Vice-Dean: Dr. Antoni Roca Vallmajor
- Vice-Dean: Dr. Fèlix Urpí Tubella
- Vice-Dean: Dr. José Fermín López Sánchez
- Secretary: Dr. Ramon Costa Sala
The Faculty is responsible for the following tasks:
- Registering students and monitoring their curriculums.
- Choosing representatives for the governing bodies, in accordance with the regulations determined in the UB’s statutes.
- Proposing courses and degrees, determining and revising training objectives and establishing curriculums in accordance with the specifications in the UB’s statutes.
- Coordinating the extension courses that are organized by the various departments.
- Proposing building work expenditure and managing maintenance work.
- Coordinating teaching activities for the courses that are linked to the Faculty.
- Organising the services needed to undertake academic activities.
- Supervising the general operation of the attached courses.
- Organising additional activities that revitalise university life.
- All activities attributed to the Faculty by the State and the UB regulations.
Courses and activities
This year the following courses and activities will be undertaken in the Faculty:
- Chemistry course
- Chemical engineering course
- Materials engineering course
- Subjects will be taught for the following courses: biochemistry, science and technology of foodstuffs and geological engineering
- Courses for the different departments’ doctoral programs
- Various postgraduate courses
- Erasmus exchange programs with universities in other European countries.
- Cooperative education agreements for work placements.
Currently, the Faculty has 18 general classrooms with different capacities, two general chemistry laboratories, 22 laboratories for teaching the departments’ subjects, five computer rooms, one study room and a library.
The Faculty of Chemistry is a research centre of the highest level in aspects of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry and Materials Sciences, for which it is internationally recognised. It has agreements with universities worldwide, and exchanges lecturers and researchers. It participates in highly varied research programs at the following levels: national (CIRIT, IEC), state (CICYT, FISS), European (BRITE, JOULE, TEMPUS, SCIENCE, COST, etc.) and worldwide (NATO, Integrated Actions, etc.). It also has applied research contracts with companies and organizations.
The Faculty offers several research services: the Newspapers and journals library, which is specialised in Chemistry, the Radioactive facility, the Radiocarbon dating laboratory, the Laboratory of Light Stable Isotropes, the Reaction Calorimetry Service, the Magnetochemistry service, the Rheology service, the Peptide synthesis service and the Alt Camp Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit.
Activities organized by the Faculty
Welcome event
Every academic year, the Faculty organizes an event for incoming students at which they are given a detailed explanation of the way the Faculty works, the characteristics of the course, and the enrolment process.
Graduation ceremony
Every academic year, the Faculty organizes a graduation ceremony at which degree certificates are presented to graduates.
‘Let’s do Chemistry in the Lab’
The Faculty organizes workshops in which secondary students can do practical classes in the teaching laboratory, use the facilities and learn about basic safety and waste issues.
Tutorials
At the beginning of the first semester, the Faculty assigns a personal tutor to each student. Students will remain in contact with their tutors throughout the course and will receive advice from them, particularly before undertaking the pre-enrolment process.
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